Tip/Quote of the Day # 767“The small and ring fingers can yield but never the thumb.” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 766Lightness is not the looseness of the contact, it is the way the horse moves over the ground - with real hind leg engagement.Tip/Quote of the Day # 765“You need to produce a walk. So work at the walk as well as the trot and canter. Get a good feeling of the body working in the walk. The walk is a mirror of the training of the horse.” ~ Christoph HessDiscussion # 132: What does this rider need to work on? Who can tell us what strengths and weaknesses this rider has? What do they need to work on to improve? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
When working with horses, always be mindful of the feedback you are giving your horse at any given time... whether intentional or accidental. When your horse misbehaves, make sure you don't give him an accidental reward by stopping to regroup (which to him is a rest and a reward.) Keep moving, get the horse to do something (anything) well, and THEN stop to regroup if you must.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 763The outside rein should be similar to a wall... but a soft wall made of rubber. If it becomes too rigid, it will not invite the horse to move up into it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 762An exercise to check if you are sitting straight and putting your weight equally down into both stirrups is to stand straight up for a few strides, and notice which stirrup you have to consciously put more weight into to keep yourself balanced.Firn's Blog post # 17Aligning the Bones
I cannot stand to be touched. In crowded areas, I contrive to duck and dodge madly whilst keeping my arms pinned tightly to my body and my breath held, lest I brush against the nasty, corrosive skin of another human being. My poor family calls me "doringdraadrol", which means, "roll of barbed wire", because I'm just as touchable. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 761Being a good rider, and being someone who understands the details of the concepts that make a good rider are two very different things. One can be both, but one does not guarantee another. This is why it is not really a good idea to pick a riding instructor based on their ability to ride. Discussion # 131: Correct extended trot vs what is more commonly seen today
The trot on the right is unfortunately what is seen 90% (or more) of the time nowadays. It is sad that so many trainers teach methods that produce this result, and that so many judges seem to overlook the problem. I am also bewildered that so many are fooled by a flashy front end, and don't seem to notice the other details. Besides the obvious toe flipping front end and trailing hind legs, what other differences do you see between these two drawings? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 760The mouth is never the real problem, what you feel in your hand is a reflection of what is happening behind the saddle. Get the back relaxed and swinging, and the hind legs active, and the horse will feel like putty in your hands.Tip/Quote of the Day # 759Everyone knows that we need the horse to be relaxed to perform well. But that starts with our own relaxation! A rider must be relaxed to give clear and precise aids to the horse, and to set the tone for the horse to be able to relax. Tips For Managing the Hot/Anxious Type of Horse
The hot or anxious type of horse can be very challenging to ride, but if well managed and patiently handled, they can be the very best competitors! These are often the horses that have the heart to give you 110% once you have formed a good bond with them. And although the training process with this type of horse can be frustratingly slow, it is often especially rewarding once you get there! Here are some tips to help you, if you have this type of horse: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
This video shows an exercise that can be useful for improving your horse's rideability on course. Have you tried this one? If not... go give it a try, and come back and tell us how it went! (Click on Discussion Title above to read this educational discussion)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 757If your horse is the type to sometimes get behind your leg in the jumping, you must start your courses with more energy in your canter than you think you need. I see so many riders starting off with a nice quiet canter, and then run into trouble because their horse doesn't respond instantly to their leg when they need them to. Tip/Quote of the Day # 756"Thoroughbreds tend to thrive on physical movement, and they are, like all horses, hypnotized by their own rhythms. Repetition of success creates a sense of peace." ~ Steuart PittmanTip/Quote of the Day # 755You don't really do yourself any favors when you cater to your weaknesses. For example, if you only like to ride with your whip in your right hand, and it feels odd and uncomfortable in your left - you need to make yourself ride with it in your left hand. And if you are uncomfortable riding amongst distractions or with people watching, you only better yourself by seeking out those conditions.Guest Blog post # 58: "Not For Me" by the famous Bad Eventer!
Not For Me
I'd been riding this horse for awhile.......... and I found him............
terrifying. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 754There is a subtle but distinct difference between the horse "giving" to the bit and truly seeking it. Applying leverage to the bit does not induce a situation where the horse learns to reach into it with confidence. It only teaches him that it is futile to resist against it. And this is why draw reins do not produce the results that some people seem to think they do.Tip/Quote of the Day # 753Quality feedback needs to be very specific. It is not that helpful for an instructor to tell you that something was "good." They should be able to tell you what exactly was good about it, and why that quality is so important. This is the difference between merely stroking someone's ego vs turning them into a great and well educated rider. Care of the Horse After Cross Country
If we are to keep our hard working Event horses healthy and sound for many years of fun and competition, we must have a good plan for keeping them that way! The cross country phase is quite obviously the most taxing phase on the horse's body. So no matter what level you are competing, it is important to have a good plan for aftercare following this phase. Here is what I recommend: (Click on Article Title above to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 752It can help a rider to learn feel by having their rides videotaped and watching it immediately after your ride. This way, you can match what you felt during the ride with what you see happening in the video, while it is still fresh in your mind. Tip/Quote of the Day # 751On riding the strong OTTB at the gallop or over fences... "The horse might pull quite hard against the bit for brief moments as it seeks balance, but if the pulling is against its own neck then the rider’s balance never shifts and the solution is much easier for the horse to discover." ~ Steuart Pittman
This is where the technique outlined here becomes invaluable! Discussion # 130: I recently came across this visual challenge which caused some trouble! I came across this situation at a recent jumper show that was held in an open coliseum in the evening hours. As the sun began to go down, the horses had to jump this brown jump directly into the shadows of the darker side of the arena. 4 strides away from this jump, the horses had sun directly in their eyes. And then right in front of this jump, the wall of the coliseum blocked the sun, and their eyes had little time to adjust. Not surprisingly, it began to cause rails down and refusals! If you were faced with this situation (which could easily happen on cross country - jumping a brown jump from bright light into the shadows), what could you do to help your horse accurately assess the jump so he can jump it well? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 750Even the very best and most natural riders will develop bad habits if they don't get regular feedback about their riding. Everyone needs good eyes on the ground from time to time. Tip/Quote of the Day # 749A stronger bit can be even milder on the horse's mouth if used correctly, as you can get more response from a lighter aid. BUT….. this will not work unless you actually make your rein aids lighter! If you use the reins with the same intensity that you did with a milder bit, there is a good chance that your horse will overreact, and you will not reap the benefits of increased responsiveness.Tip/Quote of the Day # 748"Flex your horse to the outside when necessary to improve the horse's acceptance of the connection." ~ Chris BartleFirn's Blog post # 16Groundwork Too Much of a Good Thing?
Groundwork is the buzzword in nearly all equestrian circles today. Everyone loves it - from the ammies to the classical horsemen to the cowboys. But is there such a thing as doing too much groundwork? (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 747Pinch your thumbs on the top of your reins to keep the reins from slipping. If you try to grip the reins too tightly with your whole hand, you will tighten your forearms, and your horse will resist you.Does Your Horse Try to Pull You Out of the Saddle?
It's a fairly common scenario... the horse pulling on the rider to the point that they lose the depth of their seat to some degree. Maybe they even get pulled completely out of the saddle! Not only do riders lose the strength and security of their seat when this happens - but the worst part of this situation is that riders are then often tempted to pull against their horse, which entices the horse into a game of tug of war.
Once the rider begins to pull on their horse's mouth, the horse will almost always respond by pulling even harder. And this vicious circle can continue to the point where the horse's mouth becomes virtually unresponsive. To put a stop to this cycle before it can begin, the rider must know how to properly handle the situation when their horse begins to pull on them. (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 746We incorporate circles into our training to promote suppleness and improved balance in the horse. But if our circles are oddly shaped, they will not improve the horse's suppleness, and will instead unbalance the horse.Discussion # 129: Who can tell us what causes this situation? Who can tell us what causes this situation, where the horse "misses" with his hind legs and puts them into the ditch? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
This is actually pretty common... working on haunches in and half pass can serve to increase the horse's awareness of the rider's outside leg as an aid. Which can then cause him to notice that leg on at other times and incorrectly guess that you are asking for haunches in. The answer is to... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Tip/Quote of the Day # 737Spend time on the basics, such as straightness and suppleness, and the more difficult movements will fall into place naturally.Tip/Quote of the Day # 736Your seat shouldn't stop the horse's hind legs in half halts and downward transitions, it should send them actively up into your hand to stop the horse on its hindquarters.Tip/Quote of the Day # 735Always look for the feeling that there is more horse in front of you than behind you. How do you achieve this? Two ways… don't get ahead of the horse's center of gravity, and try to keep the horse's neck as long as possible.Tip/Quote of the Day # 734In order to do successful lateral work, a rider must have an independent seat, so their aids can work precisely and independently.Guest Blog post # 57: "Tabula Rasa" by Bill WoodsTabula Rasa
Before Michelangelo began his masterpiece he had—pardon the expression—a pristine chapel. That’s how I look at a perfectly groomed arena that’s untrodden by horse or human. It calls to me on a bright morning and says “Don’t deface me with thoughtless, pointless wanderings! I mention this as my last two blog entries dealt with riding orderly, goal-directed patterns. Before I move on to other frivolities, allow me to add one related idea... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 733From Facebook fan Dorothy Smith ~ "In riding, as In a dance, one leads, one follows, but both must love to dance for it to become art."
